LAST YEAR’S WINNERS

from Chester Racecard - Friday 12th May

TODAY’S OFFICIALS & RACE CONDITIONS

The concluding day of the 2022 Boodles May Festival saw a series of star performances.

The Andrew Balding and David Probert pairing proved to be a winning combination again in last year’s renewal of the Earl Grosvenor Handicap as Red Mirage scored in the opener. It was a hugely exciting finish as the four-year-old took the lead in the final furlong, just managing to hold on under some intense late pressure from the William Haggas trained Boosala in second, winning by just a nose.

The high-quality Group 2 Huxley Stakes saw Sir Michael Stoute’s Solid Stone clutch the win in the four-runner contest under a fine ride from jockey Ryan Moore. The gelding had been in fine form in his previous campaign, scoring back-to-back Group 3 wins at Windsor and Newbury in 2021. Ryan Moore kept his mount right on the shoulder of the leader before taking control of the contest in the final two furlongs, proving too much for his rivals.

The feature race of the meeting, the Chester Cup was next and saw yet another win at this meeting by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien as his then four-year-old Cleveland produced a fine performance under Ryan Moore to secure the win.

Despite being held up in the rear, Cleveland really began to make headway just over three furlongs out before switching right to take the lead inside the final furlong. He was really made to work for it as Andrew Balding’s Coltrane wasn’t willing to give in without a fight, but ultimately Cleveland got the win by a neck with Hugo Palmer’s Rajinsky taking third.

Baryshnikov took home the Deepbridge Handicap Stakes in the second under a fine ride from Connor Beaseley. Despite being held up in the rear throughout the early goings, the gelding was able to take control of the contest after switching left and kept on strongly to score. Cap Francais took second for Ian Williams.

The five furlongs conditions stakes looked a tough one to call on paper as well-backed duo Flaming Rib and King’s Lynn looked set to duke it out for the spoils. The market preferred King’s Lynn but it was Hugo Palmer’s Flaming Rib who prevailed as Ben Curtis led him to victory by a length and a half.

We had a big price winner in the day’s penultimate contest when Alan King’s Haseefah (20/1) produced a stunning performance to clutch the win in the apprentice handicap. She looked to be weakening late on, but George Bass did well to rally the mare and she took the race by just a neck from Kalaroun in second.

Ending the Chester Boodles May Festival in style was the Chester Plate. A consolation race for the Chester Cup, Bellatrixsa justified her strong support in the market to give trainer jockey combo Venetia Williams and Franny Norton back-to-back wins in this contest. She was always doing enough to hold off the surprise 25/1 second Dance To Paris.